Vietnam defeats China 7-2 in Asian futsal qualifiers

A hat-trick from Thinh Phat propelled Vietnam to a resounding 7-2 victory over hosts China in their second Group E match of the 2026 AFC Futsal Championship qualifiers on Tuesday.

In the opening Group E matches, Vietnam beat Hong Kong 9-1, while China surprisingly lost 2-1 to Lebanon. This meant China needed a win against Vietnam to keep their hopes of qualifying alive.

Chinese players struggle against Vietnam in the second round of Group E of the 2026 AFC Futsal Championship qualifiers on Tuesday at Hangzhou, China. Photo: AFC

The 59-place gap in the FIFA rankings – Vietnam at 26th and China at 85th – was evident from the start. Vietnam also had a psychological advantage, having beaten China 1-0 at the 2024 AFC Futsal Championship in Thailand.

While China struggled to control the game, Vietnam started quickly and took the lead in the second minute thanks to a goal from Chau Doan Phat. Just a minute later, Da Hai scored two quick goals to make it 3-0.

Vietnam then sat back, allowing China more possession. However, the hosts played disjointedly and created few clear chances. Their best opportunity came in the 9th minute with a lob over goalkeeper Pham Van Tu, but the ball hit the crossbar.

After absorbing the pressure, Vietnam regained control and increased the tempo. In the 10th minute, Da Hai intercepted the ball and scored with an angled shot to make it 4-0. In the 16th minute, Ngoc Anh provided a cross for Thinh Phat to tap in from close range, extending the lead to 5-0.

Vietnamese players celebrate their 5-0 lead against China in the second round of Group E of the 2026 AFC Futsal Championship qualifiers on Tuesday at Hangzhou, China. Photo: AFC

With a comfortable lead at halftime, Vietnam played at a slower pace in the second half but still created several scoring opportunities. It wasn't until the 32nd minute that Thinh Phat scored again from close range, making it 6-0.

After this goal, the Chinese players became frustrated. Following an unsuccessful challenge, Gu Haitao fouled Duc Hoa and received a straight red card.

Playing with a man down, China conceded another goal. Thinh Phat completed his hat-trick with a powerful shot, bringing the score to 7-0.

In the final minutes, China scored two consolation goals to make it 7-2, but it was too late to change the outcome. With two losses, they were eliminated from the competition.

The 2026 AFC Futsal Championship qualifiers feature 31 teams divided into eight groups. The eight group winners and the seven best second-placed teams will qualify for the final tournament in Indonesia.

Vietnam is in Group E with Hong Kong, China, and Lebanon. The matches are taking place from 20/9 to 24/9 at the Linping Sport Center Gymnasium in Hangzhou, China.

After two matches, Vietnam leads the group with 6 points (goal difference +13), followed by Lebanon with a goal difference of +1. Hong Kong (-8) is in third place, while China is at the bottom of the table. In the final match on 24/9, Vietnam only needs a draw against Lebanon at 2:30 pm to secure their place in the final tournament.